Time flies so quickly! It's been quite a long time since I've blogged and I have a lot of guilt about it.... So, I'm getting rid of the guilt and letting you all know about the AMAZING last few weeks I've had with CAMDEN, Kathy, Matt and Alex.
This past month, I've been busy doing CAMDEN's transfer training. Basically what this means is that I teach the Crisp family our command set and how to handle CAMDEN (everywhere and anywhere) so that he is as (or more) responsive to them as he is to his trainers. The process for this has many layers. I decided that the learning process would go the smoothest by teaching one person at a time. Kathy will be CAMDEN's primary handler, so Kathy and I have done lots of field trips with CAMDEN. Most of these field trips have been (at first) without Alex to give Kathy a chance to learn all about handling CAMDEN before adding Alex into the mix. However, we have had a couple trips with Alex to therapy (and will have another one in a week) as well as a trip to see murderball.....yes, you heard me! Murderball is actually Quad Rugby-Matt plays this amazing sport and invited me, Fiona and CAMDEN to come down and watch a tournament he was in. Man, those guys are TOUGH! We loved every minute. After being a little unsettled for about five minutes, CAMDEN laid down and watched the game like he'd been doing it his whole life. The loud buzzers, crashing wheelchairs, cheering and general craziness didn't phase him at all. We were SO proud of him!
Kathy and I have also had a couple trips out to the mall (including the food court for lunch one day last week), Starbucks, Target and Borders. For maybe the first two trips I would handle CAMDEN for the first part of the trip so Kathy had a chance to observe, then she would handle him. After the first two trips, I was having Kathy handle CAMDEN the entire trip. During this time, CAMEN was also spending weekends with the Crisps-and having a fantastic time, I might add!! It was one one of these trips-perhaps the second trip out with Kathy (CAMDEN had just spent the weekend with them) that CAMDEN decided that he was officially Kathy's dog (!!!) Isn't that FANTASTIC???!!! In one session it was as if CAMDEN looked at me and "Nope, I'm not with you anymore-I'm with Kathy!" And from that day he has been totally in tune with Kathy, focused on her, watching her and doing a beautiful job with her everywhere we go. Keep in mind, he won't handle for me anymore-I give Kathy the leash and he does everything she asks! It has been the most amazing and wonderful transformation to watch! When I see CAMDEN, he'll come up to say "hey-what's up?" then go right back to Kathy and wait for her to instruct him. It's really beautiful! Kathy has been doing a great job of working hard and learning all 90+ commands-she has accepted every challenge I've thrown at her and come through with flying colors-I'm so proud!!
But wait....there's more! Not only has CAMDEN given himself gladly, quickly and willingly over to Kathy, but he has as well to Alex. Alex and CAMDEN are now the best ball-playing buddies on the face of the earth :) CAMDEN brings the ball right to Alex and puts it in his chair. Alex is now deliberately reaching for the ball and doing his best to wrap his hand around it to throw-that ball is so slippery with CAMDEN's slobber though, it is quite tricky!! Alex is now able to knock the ball off the side of his chair and CAMDEN will happily go retrieve it and bring it right back to Alex. They are quite a pair-the dynamic duo! Alex laughs and laughs and laughs (and even snorts he's laughing so hard) when he plays ball with CAMDEN. Another funny story-when Alex is getting fed at the table and CAMDEN is laying underneath-if you're not watching, Alex will pull his socks off and drop them for CAMDEN to get (because CAMDEN LOVES to retrieve socks)!
I am very proud to say that as of last week CAMDEN is officially living with the Crisps. We will be taking lots more field trips and will soon be ready to have Alex join us on those trips as well.
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